Depth Charge

South African bodyboarder Wes Fischer has won the Number 6 Brett Young Trials with a flawless display of riding in clean 3-4 feet waves at Cronulla point.

He was humble in his victory speech but out in the water showed the other side of his personality with a tradesman like approach to the final.

Second position went to Queenslands Mitch Rawlins with Newcastle’s Ben Gohl third and Jonathan Vega from Canary Islands forth.

Tomorrow will see the 32 riders assemble at the point for the “Pro Show” at 11am.

The No.6, the official bodyboard of the Cronulla Shark Island, is proud to announce The No.6 Shark Island Trials begin Friday, signalling the beginning of the Cronulla Shark Island Challenge waiting period at the trials end on Sunday.

This year’s No.6 trials event will not disappoint, with only one Australian (ex-world champ, Ben Player) currently ranked in the Top 16, the rest of the Aussie contingent must battle it out against array of international talent to secure a Wild card into Australia’s most prestigious bodyboarding event. This will make for an explosive event and if your in the Sydney area make sure you get on down to Cronulla to support the best riders in the world.

Coinciding with the event, the No.6 launches on to the Australian market next week. The No.6 range includes some of the most advanced technological breakthroughs in bodyboarding history, including the new Engineered Flex Core (EFC). Variable flex Stringers, Graphic Decks, Graphic Slicks, quad Jaguar channels, padded decks, fantastic new contour deck and concave bottom designs, as well as the new VICE THE BINDS Bicep leash, featuring the patented FLEX Panel for rider comfort which arrives in August.

The No.6 welcomes you to check out these innovations instore at your nearest quality bodyboard stockist.

This was the comment that IBA General manager Terry McKenna proudly started with during a radio interview on a Sydney Metropolitan radio station today.

“ It will be like Crusty Demons of the surf, truly death-defying and jaw dropping to watch as a spectator”

The hundred or so hopefuls lining up in the Number 6 Brett Young Memorial Trials will all be vying for one of twelve spots up for grabs in the main event of what most believe to be the best and most challenging event on the planet.

Cronulla Point will be the focal point for three days of non-stop action as riders from over 7 countries battle it out in the toughest eliminations that the sport has to offer.

“ A spot in the main event can be a career starter” said McKenna. “One good result here can catapult you to stardom:.

Along with the hoards of spectators on the point, the whole world will be watching the web-cast and potential sponsors will be able to see just who has the skills needed to dominate a beast like Shark Island.

Some of Australia’s best riders will be contesting the trials including current ratings leader Mitch Rawlins (Qld) Ryan Hardy (WA) Dave Winchester (NSW) & Chad Jackson (WA).

They will take on the best trialists in the world including Rui Ferreira (Portugal) Charlie Chaplet (France) Adam Morely (South Africa) & Ivan Hernandez (Canary Islands)

Some absorbing battles will be fought so they can join the IBA Top 16 and 4 wild cards in a 32 man main draw. The main event waiting period is July 1^st – 20^th and organizers will wait for the best conditions possible to stage the final two days of competition.

Swellnet are one of Australia’s best surf reporting website and forecaster Ben Matson will be working closely to monitor conditions in the 20 day window.

“ It’s probably a little far off to be truly accurate but it does seem like we will see a fairly strong winter progression across the South Eastern section of the country which means plenty of Southerly swell for the trails. The Island likes SE swells but this should still be ok and the winds look to be favourable as well”.

Long term Ben says that this time of year traditionally has a great reputation for big waves.

“ If we look back to this time last year we had six fairly deep Tasman & East Coast lows that generated some really big stuff for the Sydney region. We are actually just starting to see another similar pattern develop over the last week. We saw a very large swell last week and another coming this weekend”.

“The charts are certainly tilting in our favour for a fairly solid swell event but whether these swells coincide with the right tides is yet to be seen. The tides are obviously a very big factor at Shark Island but with Tasman lows starting to fire up I am confident that we should see some pretty great waves”

Competitors that have yet to enter the trials are reminded that entries close next Tuesday and any entry received after that date will not be guaranteed of a start in the contest.

All competitors will receive a pair of Human Shoes, a long sleeve contest Tee Shirt and a SIC lanyard.

The No 6 Brett Young Memorial Trials are starting at 8am on Friday June 27^th at Cronulla Point.

The No. 6 Brett Young Trials

The gateway to the

Human Cronulla Shark Island Challenge

June 27^th – 29^th

Cronulla. NSW.

Tuesday 12^th May 2008

Trials will be hotly contested…

For the first time in the events history the Human Shark Island Challenge will feature all of the elite IBA Top 16.

In the past the waiting period has been a deterrent for International competitors but 2008 will herald a new formula and a shorter waiting period.

“ The waiting period has been trimmed down to just 20 days” said IBA International General Manager Terry McKenna.

“ This is less than half the time that the event has had in the past but we are confident that this time of the year will serve up some of the epic conditions that are required for what is considered to be the best competition on the planet”.

Local riders Dave Ballard and Christian Ricco have secured the local wildcards and will not have to contest the trials.

Sponsors wildcards include Big wave charger Chris James and Newcastle’s Garth McGregor.

Garth McGregor is enjoying a massive comeback to the sport after almost a decade away from the spotlight and is still regarded as one of the most powerful riders in the world.

McGregor has had several front covers in 2008 and has also secured a new sponsor and his own model. In his own words he is “Stoked”

“ I can’t wait mate. I have only surfed the Island a few times but I love the joint. So stoked that I am going to have a crack at the main event, it’s always been a dream” said an elated McGregor.

With the top 16 and the four wildcards straight into the main event ( July 1^st – 20^th ) the Number 6 trials are expected to be stacked with talent.

Riders from over 9 countries will be lining up against the best in Australia. An expected field of around 130 will contest the three-day event set down for June 27^th – 29^th at Cronulla Point.

More info at www.ibaaustralasia.com & www.ibatour.com

Check out The No.6 at www.theno6.com

Contact IBA/BBA General Manager Terry McKenna

terry@ibatour.com or terry@bodyboardingaustralasia.com

Call / SMS 0401023661 for live updates & interviews.